Councilmember McGowan moved to approve the agenda. Second by Vice Mayor Barsky. Motion passed.

CITIZENS COMMENTS (7:33pm)

As no one appeared to speak, Mayor Hartfield closed Citizen Comments at 7:34pm.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no Old Business.

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution No. 2014-18, A Resolution to Adopt the Updated Countywide All Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (CANHMP) for Licking County, Ohio was introduced and moved for approval by Vice Mayor Barsky. Second by Councilmember McGowan.

Discussion:

Councilmember O’Keefe asked if this plan was just for natural disasters. Planner Terry responded in the affirmative. She indicated that this plan was originally adopted in 2003. Adopting a mitigation plan allowed the Village to apply for federal aid such as in 2008 with Hurricane Ike. The other involved municipalities have worked on updating this plan since 2007. Councilmember O’Keefe asked if this plan addressed possible earthquake impacts caused by fracking. Planner Terry indicated that this plan would not address that issue as there was little historical data currently available. That issue could possibly be addressed as part of the next update.

Vice Mayor Barsky asked if the Village would need to update codes as a result of passing this plan. Planner Terry responded that the plan would impact EMS units and the Building Code department more than the Village. It would not cause an impact to our zoning code. It would just allow us to apply for any necessary grant funding.

Ordinance No. 03-2014, An Ordinance Granting Approval to Purchase the Development Rights for an Easement of 13.6 Acres to the Granville Golf Course Located at 555 Newark-Granville Road was introduced and a public hearing date recommended for April 2, 2014 by Vice Mayor Barsky. Second by Councilmember O’Keefe.

Discussion:

Clerk Prasher advised Council that an updated copy of the Ordinance, survey description and agreement was provided to Council to correct a discrepancy in the labelling of exhibits. Law Director King advised Council that the easement agreement provided Council was an executed document by the property owners.

Councilmember O’Keefe asked if the property owners would still be responsible for the maintenance of the buildings. Law Director King responded in the affirmative.

Councilmember McGowan asked if the property owner could make additions to the buildings or add buildings that would be utilized in the running of a golf course. Law Director King responded in the affirmative. The Village was purchasing only the development rights to 13.6 acres of improved property. The Township’s easement on the rest of the golf course property would only permit uses as a golf course or natural open state. The current golf course owners or any future property owners could add, delete or change buildings related to the operations of a golf course under the Village’s portion of the easement. They would need to secure Planning Commission approval as applicable. Once the Village owned the development rights to the 13.6 acres, any future property owner and the Village would have to agree to any other use. Councilmember McGowan added that Village Council had not received much opposition to this purchase. The Village would continue to receive property taxes as currently billed.

Councilmember Montgomery confirmed that the development rights purchased by the Township could only be classified as open space. He also asked if the current property owners or future owners could develop any part of the 13.6 acres. Law Director King indicated that the only use of the 13.6 acres would be as open space or as a golf course, unless the Village Council agreed to other uses.

Councilmember Johnson asked if current property owners or future owners had the ability to add on to existing buildings. Law Director King indicated that as long as the improvements were related to the operation of a golf course, improvements would be permitted based on zoning regulations. Councilmember Johnson asked if the burden would be placed on the property owner to prove that the improvement was related to golf course operations. Law Director King indicated that any application would need to show how the improvement would be consistent with golf course operations. The property would only be permitted to be used as a public golf course or as open space. Any future property owner or Council would both have to agree to remove that requirement.

Councilmember Johnson asked if the language specified that the course remain a public course. Law Director King responded that the property owners retain all private property rights, except that this easement required that the course remain a public course. That stipulation was added as public dollars were being used to purchase the development rights and so the property remained a community asset.

Councilmember O’Keefe asked about the relationship between public use and fees charged. Law Director King indicated that the course was accessible and open to the public, but the owners were permitted to charge a fee to play at their discretion.

Manager Stilwell indicated that staff would publicize the public hearing scheduled for April 2nd. Documentation regarding this issue was available on the Village website. Mayor Hartfield encouraged the community to contact Village staff with any questions or comments.

Anne Ormond, 440 West College Street, indicated that she had read in the paper that family members could build on the golf course. Law Director King indicated that, once the development rights were purchased, no one would be able to build a private home on any part of the golf course. The easement had a stipulation that gave the Village first right of refusal should the current property owners wish to sell the property. That right of first refusal would not be activated if the current property owners choose to sell the property to existing shareholders, their children or a 501(c)(3) entity. Should the Village ever purchase the property, the easement agreement would be terminated.

Mayor Hartfield scheduled a public hearing for Ordinance No. 03-2014 for April 2, 2014.

REVIEW OF MINUTES

Regularly Scheduled Meeting of March 5, 2014

Councilmember O’Keefe made a motion to approve the March 19, 2013 minutes. Second by Vice Mayor Barsky. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S COURT REPORT – February

The Mayor’s Court Report for the month of February was presented for review.

Vice Mayor Barsky moved to accept the February Mayor’s Court Report. Second by Councilmember Johnson. Motion carried.

Mayor Hartfield instructed the report be filed with the Clerk. A copy of the report will be included as part of these minutes.

MANAGER'S REPORT – February

The Manager's Report for the month of February was presented for review.

Councilmember Montgomery asked about the $31,000 disbursement from the Capital Improvement Fund. He also asked why the Equipment Fund balance was so high. Manager Stilwell indicated that he thought the transfer of $25,000 was made from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Opera House Park. The Equipment Fund balance was higher in anticipation of purchasing various vehicles in 2014 and in anticipation of purchasing a new boom truck and dump truck in 2015. He indicated that he would check on both issues and provide Council a copy of the equipment purchase schedule.

Councilmember Johnson asked if there were any concerns regarding the flat growth rate of income tax revenues so far this year. He asked if staff expected to meet the estimated tax revenues. Manager Stilwell indicated that he anticipated growth as projected.

Councilmember Montgomery moved to accept the February Manager’s Report. Second by Vice Mayor Barsky. Motion carried.

Mayor Hartfield instructed the report be filed with the Clerk. A copy of the report will be included as part of these minutes.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Granville Foundation – (Montgomery)

Councilmember Montgomery reported that the Foundation developed an outline of Board member responsibilities and worked on putting together the spring fundraising effort.

Granville Recreation District – (McGowan)

Councilmember McGowan reported that the GRD was working on spring programming and registrations.

Planning Commission – (Johnson)

Councilmember Johnson reported that the Planning Commission heard three applications – one for the renovation of the Sufrad building, one for a deck and one application for a home renovation that was tabled.

Open Space Committee (O’Keefe)

No report

Tree & Landscape Commission – (Lerner)

No report.

Union Cemetery – (Barsky)

No report.

OTHER COUNCIL MATTERS

Planner Terry gave a presentation regarding the updated stormwater, water and sewer line maps that were recently compiled by Welland Consulting. The previous maps were pieced together by several engineering firms and did not show all the lines within the Village. The most recent update was over six years ago. With the new maps, Planner Terry would be able to update the maps as needed in the future. Large scale paper maps were created for each department and the Manager as well as field books made for each department.

Planner Terry explained the updated Federal Highway Aid System program that was completed following the last census. This system identifies and categorizes Village streets and roadways to enable the Village to apply for federal grant monies. The main change was an upgrade of River Road south of State Route 16 and James Road from local streets to minor collectors and North and South Cherry Valley Road from a major collector to minor arterial.

Village staff also worked on verifying and identifying flood levels throughout the Village through the USGS Flood Mapping. Static mapping for all stages of flooding were printed for the western and eastern areas of the Village. Those maps would be available in Council Chambers. Planner Terry worked with the service and utility departments on updating the flood maps to reflect actual site levels versus relying on just map elevations. Manager Stilwell added that the stream gauges will provide staff with real-time information.

Planner Terry also provided an update on the Raccoon Valley Park pedestrian bridge. The Township and Village service departments were out removing trees in the area where the bridge would be constructed later this summer. These trees needed to be felled prior to March 31st due to an endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat species that nested in the trees in this area. The felled trees would be cleared from the site by the project contractor. The project is expected to begin later this summer.

OTHER STAFF MATTERS

Manager Stilwell advised Council that a boil alert was issued for residents in the Bryn Du area over the past five days. The report from the test facility indicated that there were no contaminates in the water and the boil alert was lifted.

ADJOURNMENT (8:23pm)

Councilmember Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Second by Councilmember McGowan. Motion carried.